What a Sad Sad Day...

[MarySantos]

Well, my lfs wrote me on their facebook saying the had seahorses... When I got there they didn't. We couldn't find them anywhere in the tank, but after I sat there disappointed for a while, I saw a sad looking corpse half eaten at the top of the tank. Very sad...

But I did order my erectus pair, and they should be arriving tomorrow or Thursday. I guess it's better to order online than going to local fish stores, though I like to support ma and pa shops... they didn't even know what they had. Just said they were young yellow ones.

Any tips on acclimation would be great though! What is everyones preferred method?

 

[namxas]

If the fish have been shipped, ask about salinity and pH from supplier, then match them. When you get the SH, match temp (float them 20 mins or so), open the bag, and let them out.

We no longer practice the "drip" acclimation for any fish that has been bagged for longer than an hour, as there will be NH3 buildup in the shipping water, however, the pH of the shipping water will drop while the bag is sealed due to CO2 buildup, which renders the NH3 less toxic. However, the pH rises upon opening the bag, which causes the same NH3 to become much more toxic, and your SH's gills will be burned.

To illustrate the point, here is a NH3 test showing shipping water vs. "normal" tankwater:

 

[MarySantos]

Okay, thank you! Should I just scoop them out with my hand or should I let them swim out of the bag themselves?

 

[namxas]

Just reach into the bag and "hand carry" them to the tank. See if you can feel any of them "growl" when you pick them up (some SH do NOT like being picked up).

 

[MarySantos]

Lol. Will do. Thank you for all your help! I'm very excited.